Yep your right about the HCTZ since I started taking it it has caused constipation. I drink lots of liquids, but some times it just catches up with me.
I am goin to take the D3 in the morning tomorrow. I haven't started the calcium...,. just have a erry feeling about it, I was looking at labs last Yr and my Calcium levels were perfect. I just don't know if I need it... is it a must just because my dr, said to take it, se hasn't checked what my calcium level is.

IMO you must, must, must take SOME calcium with vitamin D. Vitamin D regulates calcium but it must have some calcium along with the vitamin D or your blood calcium levels can rise and you may get hypercalcemia.

I have been taking 200 of calcium, and tonight I am starting the 500, am and pm, and 2 magnesiums, for a total of 600.
My Dr told me to only take 1,000 of the calcium, my levels are fine...I'm doing fine, in the last 60 post on here I have understood it...She told me to take just 400 of the magnesium.
But between the calcium and the HCTZ If I am getting into trouble with the constipation, I am going to have to change something. I eat alot of calcium a day also.....

IMO you must, must, must take SOME calcium with vitamin D. Vitamin D regulates calcium but it must have some calcium along with the vitamin D or your blood calcium levels can rise and you may get hypercalcemia.

I think adding Calcium pills is alot of calcium..... I just don't understand if I eat it why do I need to take so much???

I have a chronic Vitamin D deficiency as well as my mom & sister. No matter how much time we spend in the sun or what we eat we have a conversion problem-our body isn't processing the sun or foods into enough Vitamin D. This could be your problem also.

I began taking vitamin D3 almost exactly a year ago. I took 5,000 IUs daily throughout the winter (OK, I missed a few days here and there, but pretty regularly, nonetheless). I stopped taking it quite so often when it finally got sunny here!!! Around May, I guess. Over the summer I only took it sporadically - at doses of around 5,000IUs each time - when the weather was bad or when I didn't get outside much.

As someone who uses a bicycle to get the groceries, I get outdoors a bit more than most people, all year round. I made a special effort this summer to get outdoors over noon and hardly ever used sunscreen - only if I was outside in the sun for a long time.

I started taking it again on a daily basis in October. My D results came out at 61.3ng/ml!!!

And it was the right test, too!!!

I have been taking the "D emulsion forte" made by Biotics, which I get shipped to my address here in Germany from "The Vitamin Service" in the UK. It seems to have done the trick!!!

I have also been taking chelated magnesium since August and really notice the difference in my general calmness, concentration abilities and balance. This may have been helped by the fact that I have been gradually reducing my caffeine intake, too, but whatever the case may be, I am pretty sure the chelated magnesium has had a very positive effect.

One question, though: in a German book I read about vitamin D, the guy said that the sample should be wrapped in foil or covered somehow otherwise the results will be skewed by the exposure of the blood to light. I did mention this to the lady who drew my blood but I have no clue whether she did cover it up.

One question, though: in a German book I read about vitamin D, the guy said that the sample should be wrapped in foil or covered somehow otherwise the results will be skewed by the exposure of the blood to light. I did mention this to the lady who drew my blood but I have no clue whether she did cover it up.

The thing is, I have never heard anybody else mention this.

What do you D experts think???

amanda

In my readings about Vitamin D stability exposure to UV radiation does process the vitamin D on into substances the body doesn't use. This happens with both UVB and UVA light.
So draw blood (containing vitamin D3) place in a clear tube by a UVA light source (window or flourescent light tube) and you have the chance of a lower reading than you thought.
I wonder if the reports of poor response from Vitamin D2 arise from pharmacies buying in bulk, keeping the bulk supply on a high open shelf near a fluorescent light tube and then when the Ergocalciferol is dispensed it's even more worthless than when it was manufactured.

It's mainly light that is the problem. You can freeze D3 in ice cream and bake D3 in cakes/bread/biscuits and it's fine but put it under UVA or UVB and the conversion to suprasterols the body can't use will happen.

The Grassroots D Action (ZRT) 25(OH)D test requires just 2 drops of blood. These go directly onto the sample tissue which you allow to dry for a few minutes and then return in an envelope. I suppose if you put the sample tissue paper to dry by the window or under a strong light you could harm it's D3 content but the results I've had have been in line with my expectations.

I got my D3 result....it was 32 back in Oct 09, and 53 in Dec, and This week they got 59. I have been taking the D3 every two weeks....
I was sitting here thinking, do I feel different.

1. The pain of Fibro is gone.
2. Haven't had a cold, or H1N1, or any of the OTHER viruses, this season..
3. I have more energy...
4. That Numb emotion feeling is gone.. I was off Morphine 1 yr when I started the D3, and it got rid of it.,.,
5. I feel more relaxed..the stress in the center of my stomach is gone.
6. My A1C that had been climbing, dropped 2 points.
7. I sleep better, and I DO DREAM, and remember them now..

Hey Mouse, interesting reading. i am always concerned, and confused, with the amounts to take. I am still taking my D3 as well, 5,000 daily. I am always wondering just how much is ok to take? For a couple months, when first started taking it, I felt so good, an improvement in my over all feelings, happier, etc. Then that feeling began to wan, I felt I should maybe double it for a while to 10,000, but can't get a straight answer from my dr. and while all my other blood work came back, he doesn't feel its necessary to test for the d level, noted that my calcium, mag, and pots. levels were excellent. I just wonder if I should take the 10,000 units, or if thats too much.Guess, will just have to keep bugging my dr. about the test. It was great to see that your levels have gone up!

As you can see from this graph it's impossible to say for certain exactly how much vitamin D is required to get to around 60ng/ml. Most people will manage it on 1000iu/daily/D3 for each 25lbs they weigh. For you at 150lbs ish that's 6000iu/daily particularly in winter when you won't be getting any from sunshine. So until you are able to get some regular, near full body, skin exposure to UVB warm sunshine it may be an idea to have one or two of extra 5000iu/s each week.
Remember you don't have to ask your doctor for 25(OH)D test you can get a postal test. If you are below 60ng/ml then take an extra 1000iu/daily for each 10ng/ml you need to increase to get just over 60ng/ml. If you are above 80ng/ml then reduce by that amount so you end up in between 60~80ng/ml.

Topping up your vitamin D tank
Dr Davis suggests it may take up to 3yrs to be sure your vitamin D reserves are fully restored at intakes around 10,000iu/daily.
With the 50,000iu capsules you have bought that works out at ONE capsule every 5 days.

A rule of thumb (guesswork) is to take 1000iu/daily for each 25lbs you weigh.
so just over 7000iu/daily MAY be sufficient (for someone living in the USA and getting some sunshine when possible) This would mean one 50,000capsule each week.
If you find that easier (just having SUNDAY your vitamin D day) than trying to remember every 5th day it MAY be sufficient.
If you want to stick with the 10,000iu/daily average but only take the capsules ONE day each week so it's easier to remember you could ALTERNATE one 50,000iu week one and 2 x 50,000iu week two and so on so every fortnight you took 3 x 50,000iu total 150,000iu over 14 days = just over 10,000iu/daily.
It would be worth asking for another 25(OH)D test in 6 months to see how it works out in practice.
do be aware that every responds differently and what suits most people may not suit you.

Also don't forget that vitamin D3 works in conjunction with magnesium and omega 3 and these also all affect mood. Similarly getting outside into bright sunlight not only creates vitamin D3 it also resets your circadian rhythm. This enables your body to secrete more MELATONIN, another anti inflammatory, anti oxidant that works in the brain and protects mitochondria. It's roles are as many and as varied as Vitamin D3, omega 3 and magnesium and should not be overlooked.